Central Division is a problem

[pvr]

The ONLY reason the Kings may have the upper hand over the Hawks is that they didn't go to the playoffs last year. They're likely embarrassed about that, and more rested. The Hawks played more games (oh, and won the Cup, again), and likely are going to be more tired as the season and playoffs progresses.

The Hawks currently have the look of a Stanley Cup contending team. We'll see how it all plays out over the next five months.

 

[BobbyJet]

The ONLY reason the Kings may have the upper hand over the Hawks is that they didn't go to the playoffs last year. They're likely embarrassed about that, and more rested. The Hawks played more games (oh, and won the Cup, again), and likely are going to be more tired as the season and playoffs progresses.

The Hawks currently have the look of a Stanley Cup contending team. We'll see how it all plays out over the next five months.

This is exactly why I keep harping about resting certain players down the stretch and rolling 4 lines as much as possible for most of the season. IMO, Q needs to show more trust in his bottom 6 and particularly in the 4th line, by playing them more than single digit minutes. That said, a typical Kings team will expend more energy with the style they play. Sutter needs to monitor his squad's ice time in the same fashion.

 

[hockeydoug]

Wonder if Chevy job will be in jeopardy

I think he and Bergevin have to be on the hot seat. Tallon should have been fired after last year. Seems few teams win big after taking stuff from Bowman. Must be some Dark McDonough forces at work. Maybe he can orchestrate Gathier to STL and MacIsaac to Min and Chicago will be all set in the regular season for the next half decade.

 

[hockeydoug]

Sutter is still playing Doughty 82 minutes a game and that team hasn't had to deal with significant injuries yet. They locked Sutter out of the dressing room when things went bad last year.

Even the 13' Hawks had to deal with stumbles in the reg season near the end. Nobody blows through 3 or 4 months straight without some big hiccups. I want to see LA get through a tough patch before I get too worried about them. When Chicago faces them, if they face them, it will be mid-late May. Gabby, Carter, Brown, Schenn, and Vinnie will all have that many more miles on them by that time.

Chicago is in good shape with the conference. 13' is the only year under Q where I liked the playoff matchups so much for Chicago. Obviously health and trades will change complexions of teams.

 

[hawksfan50]

If the Hawks finish first in the entire Western Conference perhaps they will avoid the Kings (assuming Kings are 2nd overall on the Western Conference) until at least the Conference Final...but if the cards fall fir us maybe the Kings do not even get there IF they play the Blues for the chance to advance to the Western Final..Should that series happen we know they will smash each other to bits and the team emerging will have no gas left for the Final.
SO there is value in finishing first in the West besides all series with home ice advantage...the value being we may avoid L.A. if the cards fall for us..That as we know makes it easier to win the Cup.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

If the Hawks finish first in the entire Western Conference perhaps they will avoid the Kings (assuming Kings are 2nd overall on the Western Conference) until at least the Conference Final...but if the cards fall fir us maybe the Kings do not even get there IF they play the Blues for the chance to advance to the Western Final..Should that series happen we know they will smash each other to bits and the team emerging will have no gas left for the Final.
SO there is value in finishing first in the West besides all series with home ice advantage...the value being we may avoid L.A. if the cards fall for us..That as we know makes it easier to win the Cup.

I think you are thinking of the old format.

 

[BobbyJet]

Hawks have some impressive numbers in this winning streak. Here are a few of them:

15 – different Blackhawks who have scored at least one goal the past 12 games.

19 – second-period goals scored by the Blackhawks. Opponents have six second-period goals against them.

21 – points Patrick Kane has recorded during the winning streak (nine goals, 12 assists). That includes Kane’s 30th goal of the season, scored on Tuesday, which ties his career high set in 2009-10.

+25 – goal differential for the Blackhawks; they have outscored opponents 47-22 in the last 12 games.

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